V-Flyer

So flight 4 of 5 for this trip, the previous one to get into MIA being here http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?t=28 ... =viewtopic

As you have maybe read above, I had been watching Expertflyer in the hope that an upgrade to upper might be available on arrival.

The return part of this trip was a premium economy K fare which was bought during the last 4 day sale and was the 2nd half of a combi fare. Still with me

I knew that premium was showing virtually full with one spare w fare and that upper was showing 8 empty seats, so has been said before, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The flight in via AA was uneventful and once bags were claimed it was fairly easy to navigate to F concourse and checkin.

Result, checkin was open with no queues.

I had 2 objectives, the upgrade and to get the backs checked through to "Edinboro" What is it with Americans who cannot say Edinburgh. It's easy

Anyway, before I could open my mouth, the nice guy at checkin said, do you know you could upgrade to upper with miles, there are seats available. Top Man

You read my mind

And so it was 20,000 miles and $259 which was $85 dollars for the tax and $174 to upgrade the K to an S and then to a G.

So after a quick stop at Dunkin donuts (just opposite the virgin checkin) it was up the escalator and through to the "lovely lounge"

Thereafter downstairs to the gate where Burger King has been replaced by a pizza counter.

A short delay after a late inbound plane and after a whole load of Mr and Mrs X approach the counter for a message, we began boarding. Upper looked full, as did premium but didn't venture any further back.

I have marked the food down because it didn't really appeal that much. I seem to mostly have problems with the inbound catering. Don't know if it's maybe me not wanting to eat at that time after a stressful day, or if it's just the US caterers with different tastes but it was really just average, which is probably not good enough for an Upper fare.

The menu which I don't know if any has posted since it changed in Oct is as follows

Starters

Tomato and lentil soup
Smoked salmon tartare

Mains

Pan severed fillet of beef
Free range chicken breast stuffed with duxelle
Butternut squash ravioli

Deserts

Rains bread pudding
Pumpkin cheese cake

Cheese and port

Eiffel Tower Camembert
Colliers Welsh Cheddar
Blue Stilton

I had the soup which was ok but not the usual "gloppy" stuff and the beef which came with potato wedges. Wedges with the s at the end which translated into 2 wedges

After that I gave up, watched Disneys Planes which was a little plain compared to Cars and then slept for a good 4+ hours.

2 bits of good news The cabin temperature was quite cool unlike many previous occasions where I think they used it to rise the bread for the next outbound flight, but this was also helped by new sleep suits. 100% cotton, all sealed in clear bags and a much, much better fit !

Although again the bean (wedge) counters seem to have been at work as there is only 1 pocket. .... Strange but true. Anyways, a huge improvement of what was.

Soon time for breakfast and that was

Selection of breakfast cereals
Fresh fruit salad
Warm croissants
Bacon busty
Traditional full English
French toast with maple syrup and bacon

I had the full English which was again accurately described as scrambled eggs, back bacon, pork sausage, button mushrooms and grilled tomato.

Yes, a cupful of eggs, 1 piece of bacon, 1 sausage, 3 mushrooms hence the s and 1 grilled tomato.

It was quite tasty but could have reasonably been brought on a large saucer

Only one circle before into Heathrow and a quick follow of flight connections brought me to the gate for little red up to Edinboro with about 15 mins wait.

The summary being, nice upgrade, very hard working crew that seemed to be everywhere and addressed everyone by name, but the food was a bit of a let down.

Thanks for reading

David

Oh, and another little bonus, checked my flying club account as I guess I will have to chase up the tier points and the miles for the paid part of the flight and the upgrade is listed as "airport upgrade 12500 miles"

Is this new ?

Whoops seem to have made the ground staff 2 stars. If a mod could adjust it to 5 I would be grateful. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing and well done with the upgrade.
Good to hear about the "better fit" of the sleep suits, will be donning one next Monday evening on return from BOS.
First time in the ' new dream suite' on an A330, after all the negative comments I have been on a diet the last few weeks. With a bit of luck I will also be a "better fit"!

Good result on checkin and yes, the upgrade should have been 12,500 miles not 20k. Seems like the food is taken on Alice in Wonderland proportions (the getting smaller part!).

Thanks for the TR and the menu update. Hope someone will post a picture of the new sleep suit !
Well done on the upgrade.

The 'Bacon busty' sounds lıke an ınterestıng breakfast optıon. I'll take 2 of them :-)

Thanks for the TR. We'll done with upgrade. How was the Pan severed fillet of beef

Mac wrote:Thanks for the TR. We'll done with upgrade. How was the Pan severed fillet of beef

, the delights of iPads. Lol, should have been pan-seared fillet of beef.

And I'll use the same excuse for the bacon butty.


David

Thanks for TR and kudos on airport upgrade.

I've got a new sleep suit kicking around in my wardrobe somewhere from my trip to YVR in the summer. 100% cotton it is indeed but it don't bloody fit!

Thanks for the report. Are the new suits less snug than the previous horrid poly- cotton spark throwing versions ( if so Mr DL will be pleased as the old L size was anything but.... ) ?.
DL

DragonLady wrote:Thanks for the report. Are the new suits less snug than the previous horrid poly- cotton spark throwing versions ( if so Mr DL will be pleased as the old L size was anything but.... ) ?.
DL

Having just come back from what nearly turned into a shopping trip the whole size thing, especially in the US seems, over the last few years, to have got out of hand.

Apologises how that sounds but I don't mean the fiscal size of the people, but the sizing of the clothes. You can go into 3 shops and each size L for example would be totally different. You can be a medium in some shops, a large in others an even an extra large in others ( Abercrombie is a particular example of that )

What I did notice last night after having a look around was that either most people had guessed their correct size or more likely that the sleep suits are actually better made and now fit better. ( not that I was spying on anyone )

Probably doesn't answer your question DL, but going on past experiences, Mr DL should be much happier with the sleep suits

David

Cheers for the TR for this segment too David, nice one on the upgrade and yep 12500 is the correct amount of miles. They must have realised their error and corrected it.

Will give the new sleep suits a shot next week (assuming I don't spend all flight at the bar again) - one pocket you say

Sounds like all went swimmingly and hope the LR flight was as efficient .... were those poor soles still milling around awaiting a BA flight to Belfast?

Thank you for the TR and well done on the updgrade.

Thanks for the Tr

I really didn't like the new sleep suite on my last flight! Really didn't fit me, too big and misshapen. Luckily I a BA first set still with ribbon on in my hand luggage ;-)

Thanks for the TR
I thought the sleep suite was a good fit how the new one sounds interesting - 1 pocket? I guess some bean counters have "issues" lol
That said I know a few v-flyers take their own "sleep suits" (didn't we used to call them PJs?lol)
Bretty and tontybear to name but too. Slinky is a regular on the red eye ex-NYC, does he take his own? Hmm
I'm thinking about taking my own now

gfonk wrote:Thanks for the TR
I thought the sleep suite was a good fit how the new one sounds interesting - 1 pocket? I guess some bean counters have "issues" lol
That said I know a few v-flyers take their own "sleep suits" (didn't we used to call them PJs?lol)
Bretty and tontybear to name but too. Slinky is a regular on the red eye ex-NYC, does he take his own? Hmm
I'm thinking about taking my own now

Maybe that's an idea for the v-flyer shop - an exclusive v-flyer sleep suit

David